Tarnation (2003)
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- Unrated
- 1h 28min
- Documentary, Biography
- 10 Nov 2004 (France)
- Movie
Filmmaker Jonathan Caouette's documentary on growing up with his schizophrenic mother -- a mixture of snapshots, Super-8 film, answering machine messages, video diaries, early short films, and more - culled from nineteen years of his life.
Director:
Writer:
Awards:
- 9 wins & 12 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast
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Renee Leblanc | ... |
Self
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| Jonathan Caouette | ... |
Self
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Adolph Davis | ... |
Self
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Rosemary Davis | ... |
Self
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David Sanin Paz | ... |
Self
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Joshua Williams | ... |
Self
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Michael Cox | ... |
Guy cussing in short film
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David Leblanc | ... |
Self
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Stacey Mowery | ... |
Self
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Michael Mouton | ... |
Self
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| Greg Ayres | ... |
Self
(as Bam-Bam)
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Vanda Stovall | ... |
Self
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Dagon James | ... |
Self
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| Vivian Kalinov | ... |
Self
(as Girl in Student Film)
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Steve Caouette | ... |
Self
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Lisa Berri | ... |
Blue Velvet cast
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Kelli Brisbane | ... |
Blue Velvet cast
(as Kellie Brisbane)
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| Mike Smith Rivera | ... |
Blue Velvet cast
(as Apocalypse Clown)
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Miek Coccia | ... |
Blue Velvet cast
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Caity Creitz | ... |
Blue Velvet cast
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| Daniel Letterle | ... |
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Sterling Price McKinney | ... |
Blue Velvet cast
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Michael Sillery | ... |
Blue Velvet cast
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Layard Thompson | ... |
Blue Velvet cast
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Directed by
| Jonathan Caouette | ||
Written by
| Jonathan Caouette | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Vanessa Arteaga | ... | executive producer |
| Jason Banker | ... | associate producer |
| Jonathan Caouette | ... | producer |
| Marie Therese Guirgis | ... | executive producer |
| John Cameron Mitchell | ... | executive producer |
| Gus Van Sant | ... | executive producer |
| Ryan Werner | ... | executive producer |
| Stephen Winter | ... | producer |
Music by
| Max Avery Lichtenstein | ||
| John Califra | ||
Cinematography by
| Jonathan Caouette | ||
Editing by
| Jonathan Caouette | ||
| Brian A. Kates | ... | co-editor |
Editorial Department
| George Bunce | ... | on-line editor: high definition video |
| Don Ciana | ... | color timer |
| Michael Haertlein | ... | post-production assistant |
| Peter Heady | ... | on-line editor: HDTV |
| Florence Holdeman | ... | assistant editor |
| Brian Patchett | ... | assistant editor: high definition |
| Jamila Qazi | ... | editing coordinator |
| Shelby Siegel | ... | additional editor |
Production Management
| Robert Warmflash | ... | post-production supervisor |
Sound Department
| Jonathan Caouette | ... | sound |
| Lora Hirschberg | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Brandon Proctor | ... | mix technician |
| Daniel Sperry | ... | stereo sound consultant: Dolby (as Dan Sperry) |
| Sean England | ... | digital archivist (uncredited) |
| Lora Hirschberg | ... | sound designer (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Jason Banker | ... | digital effects |
Music Department
| Jim Black | ... | music supervisor |
| John Califra | ... | orchestral score producer / orchestrator |
| Milan Cimfe | ... | orchestral score producer / score ProTools operator |
| William David Fastenow | ... | music copyist |
| Pavel Karlik | ... | assistant to score recording engineer / orchestral score producer |
Additional Crew
| Mickey Cottrell | ... | publicist |
| Tristan Cowen | ... | assistant to producer |
| Peter Cross | ... | legal counsel |
| Mayur Deshmukh | ... | production assistant |
| Don Farber | ... | legal counsel |
| Tenley Gillmore | ... | production assistant |
| Michael Haertlein | ... | production assistant |
| Roberta Morris Purdee | ... | rights and clearances |
| Claudine Mulard | ... | translator: French subtitles |
| Troy Nuyens | ... | production assistant |
| Joe Pagano | ... | plant manager |
| Wade H.W. Rudolph | ... | production assistant (as Wade Rudolph) |
| Tracey Soast | ... | video coordinator |
| Joe Violante | ... | technical advisor |
Thanks
| James Bolton | ... | special thanks |
| Tristan Cowen | ... | thanks |
| Roger Ebert | ... | thanks |
| Krystal Kennedy | ... | thanks |
| Susan A. Leahy | ... | The makers of this film would like to thank (as Susan Leahy) |
| Josh Lowden | ... | The makers of this film would like to thank |
| Paul Morrissey | ... | thanks |
| Dolly Parton | ... | thanks |
| David Sanin Paz | ... | special thanks |
| Olivier Père | ... | thanks |
| Michael Sillery | ... | special thanks |
| Stephen Sprouse | ... | special thanks |
| Michael Thornton | ... | thanks |
| Dany Wolf | ... | thanks |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Dendy Films (2005) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Filmmuseum Distributie (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Herald Film Company (2005) (Japan) (theatrical)
- New Star (2005) (Greece) (theatrical)
- Stamm Film (2004) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
- U Talkin 2 Me (2004) (France) (theatrical)
- Wellspring Media (2004) (United States) (theatrical)
- BBC Storyville (2006) (United Kingdom) (tv)
- Four Films (2006) (Chile)
- Hope Runs High Films (2020) (United States)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Cannes Film Festival (festival)
- FILM Archives (archival film)
- Home Movie Project (super 8 transfers)
- Karmic Release Ltd. (rights and clearances)
- Postworks New York (digital intermediate)
- Skywalker Sound (Post Production Sound Services provided by)
- Sono Recording Studios (score recorded at)
- Sundance Film Festival (festival)
- Toronto International Film Festival (festival)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Part documentary, part narrative fiction, part home movie, and part acid trip. A psychedelic whirlwind of snapshots, Super-8 home movies, old answering machine messages, video diaries, early short films, snippets of '80s pop culture, and dramatic reenactments to create an epic portrait of an American family travesty. The story begins in 2003 when Jonathan learns that his schizophrenic mother, Renee, has overdosed on her lithium medication. He is catapulted back into his real and horrifying family legacy of rape, abandonment, promiscuity, drug addiction, child abuse, and psychosis. As he grows up on camera, he finds the escapist balm of musical theater and B horror flicks and reconnects to life through a queer chosen family. Then a look into the future shows Jonathan as he confronts the symbiotic and almost unbearable love he shares with his beautiful and tragically damaged mother. Written by Sujit R. Varma |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Your greatest creation is the life you lead See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $218 (estimated) |
| Opening Weekend United States | $12,740, 10 Oct 2004 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | It cost $218 to make but the budget rose to $400,000, once music and video clip royalties were included. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited from Rosemary's Baby (1968). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Ice-Pulse See more » |
| Quotes |
Jonathan Caouette:
Am I on? My name is Hilary Chapman Lauralou Gorea. This is like a testimony isn't it? See more » |